Tim Tebow won't be playing for Jaguars next season, new GM says

"I can't imagine a scenario in which he'll be a Jacksonville… (Elaine Thompson / Associated…)

Tim Tebow will not be playing for his hometown Jacksonville Jaguars next season, not if new General Manager David Caldwell has his way.

In his introductory news conference Thursday, Caldwell was adamant that the former Heisman Trophy winner at Florida and current failed Jets quarterback is not part of the team's rebuilding plan.

“I can't imagine a scenario in which he'll be a Jacksonville Jaguar — even if he's released,” Caldwell said.

And the Jets have indicated they will release Tebow, who was the odd man out when New York shuffled struggling starter Mark Sanchez and third-stringer Greg McElroy in and out of the lineup.

Jaguars owner Shad Khan has been intrigued by Tebow possibly returning to his hometown. Jacksonville has had a revolving door at quarterback recently, with heralded second-year pro Blaine Gabbert getting injured and veteran Chad Henne having mixed results this season.

“It's not my decision,” Khan said Thursday. “I want to do whatever to help this team win. Who the players are is really the general manager's and coaches' [decision].... It's a football-side operation decision. It's really not my decision.

“I'm telling them to take a look at Tebow and they're saying, 'We're going to go in a different direction.'"

Although that direction is undetermined, Caldwell said it will be addressed.

"We plan to address the quarterback situation, obviously," Caldwell said. "Blaine is the second-youngest quarterback in the NFL, but we're going to have open competition. Whether it's through draft or through free agency, we'll bring in some more people to compete at the quarterback position. We're going to let the best player win that position."